This controlled, prospective, nonrandomized clinical investigation has as its chief strength the fact that it was done in humans with active disease and apparently on fairly modest therapeutic regimens. The aim was to present the results of oxidative-stress biomarkers in humans suffering from pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). Inflammation and oxidative stress are essential in PAH with increased lipid peroxidation and reduced antioxidant defenses. Twenty-four adult patients of both sexes, with a mean age of 21 years, were subdivided into 2 groups: a control group of 12 healthy, nonsmoking volunteers and a PAH group (PAHG) of 12 volunteers with PAH receiving outpatient treatment. Oxidative stress was evaluated by plasma activity of reduced glutathione (GSH); lipid peroxidation was expressed by malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid hydroperoxide (ferrous oxidation of xylenol orange [FOX] assay); vitamin E was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses showed significant differences for (1) the TNF-α measure, with highest values in PAHG patients; (2) the plasma GSH, with lowest values in PAHG patients; (3) vitamin E, with the lowest concentrations in PAHG patients; (4) MDA measure, with highest values in PAHG patients; and (5) the lipid hydroperoxide FOX measure, with highest values in PAHG patients. In conclusion, inflammation and oxidative stress are present in patients with PAH, as confirmed by increased lipid peroxidation, reduced GSH, and low concentrations of vitamin E.

Our results have demonstrated that respiratory muscle dysfunction, among other clinical factors, is associated with the need for PIMV due to cardiovascular or pulmonary dysfunction after heart valve surgery.

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Introduction: Postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries are usually a clinical challenge, which can be prevented and treated with specific physical therapy techniques. However, it is not known which technique is the most effective. Objective: Literature review with the objective of assessing the effectiveness of positive pressure (CPAP, IPPB, NIV-2P) compared to standard physioterapy therapy and incentive spirometry on improving pulmonary function in postoperative cardiac surgery patients. Methods: English and Portuguese studies were used as references, searching for specific descriptors on the following data sources: BIREME, SciELO Brazil, LILACS, PUBMED, from 1985 to 2010. Only randomized clinical trials were included. Results: Ten randomized control trials were included in this review. About the most effective technique, two studies showed that CPAP and NIV-2P were more effective than standard physioterapy and incentive spirometry. In other two studies, NIV-2P were more effective than nasal oxygen catheter and standard physioterapy. Conclusion: There is no evidence in the literature about the most effective physiotherapy technique. Also, it is not known if the association of positive pressure, standard physioterapy and incentive spirometry can be more effective. It is important to emphasize that no selected study compared the three modalities of positive pressure.